Chapter Text
Nene Yashiro was a lonely bathroom ghost. She wanted romance so desperately, handing it out like candy on halloween, but never got a taste of anything other then the bitterness of being used for other people to achieve their wishes of picnics and kisses and... whatever else couples did. She just wanted to feel that and have someone feel the same way, ya know? Then again, after what happened... maybe it was better she was alone. She was a ghost. What'd she think would happen, she'd meet a hot ghost man and they'd actually fall in love? She laughed at the ridiculous notion of her finding someone. Yeah like that would ever-
"Tsukasaaaa" A young boy, around her age, whined, interrupting her thoughts. "I don't wanna invade the girl's bathroom for a stupid wish! I don't even have a wish, and even if I did, ghosts aren't real! And even if they were, and even if she granted wishes, they come at a price!"
Nene had to laugh at that. Just who was this boy to say she didn't exist? He couldn't even see her! How silly mortals are, only believing in what can be seen and felt. Do they never realize there is so much more unless they join her in the afterlife?
"Please just do it! Go in there and wish for something! I know there's something you want! No, something you need! Worst case scenario, we get detention for peeping." Nene could tell that they were getting closer, and the guy the whiny boy had called Tsukasa was seeming to be succeeding in pushing him in the bathroom. Nene brushed out her outdated uniform, hoping that she could just grant these hobo's wishes and be done with it.
"That's a pretty bad worst case, Tsukasa! I'll never be an astronaut then!" The sweet boy argued. And he did have a point, detention was something that looked super bad on a record, especially for something like being a guy in a girl's restroom. Nene hoped they'd just realize this whole plan was messed up, turn around, and leave so she could bet back to fantasizing in peace.
"I don't think that's how it works, Amane. One detention doesn't equal loss of opportunities." The Tsukasa guy points out, voices echoing around the bathroom now. Oh joy, she might have to actually do something today. For these two idiots?
"You're missing my point Tsukasa! I don't wanna get in trouble for perving, I'm not like that!" The smaller boy, Amane, complained. Nene was almost entertained now, the company being such a rare delight as a ghost.
"In you go!" Tsukasa exclaimed, ignoring his brother's yelp of protest. "Knock three times and say Nene-san three times! Then she appears! Byeee!" He squealed before running away. Nene was distracted by her first glance of the boy, seeing short hair in what resembled a choppier bowl cut. It didn't look half bad on him, he thought. His eyes were big and round, like pools of caramel. The thing that most fascinated her, however, was the bandages around his wrists. It made her wonder if something was seriously wrong, and maybe that's what he came here with. It wouldn't be the first time she's had to help someone with that.
"I'm putting laxatives in his dinner." Amane muttered tiredly, the threat not real, not spoken to anyone. He seemingly just wanting to get this over and confirm Nene doesn't exist. What a surprise he'd be in for, she realized.
He knocked three times, the sound rebounding throught the bathroom. "Nene-san, Nene-san, Nene-san." He whispered, as though speaking was dangerous, and any sound too loud would summon her.
"Hello! I'm Nene-san, the seventh wonder of the school. Name and wish please!" She exclaimed, appearing in her old school uniform, white hair braided back into two braids, the ends fading into a green. She didn't miss the way Amane gawked, or how he stumbled over his words.
"Um... It's, I'm Yugi Amane. My twin brother, Tsukasa, forced me here. I don't have a wish." Ah, so Tsukasa was his twin. That explained a little more why he cared so much about what happened to Amane, to the point of shoving him in here to make a wish, probably because he didn't know what to do for Amane anymore. She was gonna do what she could to help Amane's morale.
Nene leaned in close, and whispered into his ear, "Oh really? Because I know what it is you want." She enjoyed the way his face turned beet red, and how he couldn't quite meet her gaze. Maybe it'd lift his spirits. She had trouble with the whole being a kind, normal, listener post-death. She was better at repairing moods with flirting or just generally being funny.
"You-you do?!" His eyes widened and his face flushed. It was as if he forgot she'd been here the whole time. She'd known his name before he said it, in the same way she knew what he wanted.
"You want to be an astronaut." She smirked, thinking she'd got him beat.
But she did a quick double take when he responded, "I mean, I do, but that's something I can achieve on my own. I wouldn't come to you for that. I wanted... I wanted romance." The red on his face deepened, and her heart skipped a beat. Then it dropped, realizing it was very likely he had someone in mind. Still she kept up the facade.
"Is that so? Very bold of you to say you can't achieve romance on your own, but deny assistance to becoming an astronaut. Most people get romance. Very few become astronauts." She pointed out.
"I'm not most people." He huffs, arm crossed and rolling his eyes.
'Now now, no need to get all huffy on me. I just wanted to make sure you don't want...something else." She explained, gesturing to his bandaged forearms.
"It doesn't matter as much as you think it is. I'm just... being bullied and-" He was cut of mid-sentence by Nene pulling out her sharp blood-crusted garden trowel.
"Where are they?!" She demanded, ready to bury them beneath a daikon patch.
"No, let me finish. They bully me, but only with words. I'm the reason the bandages are needed." He confesses, eyes looking down at the floor, as though he's expecting Nene to be mad. For struggling? Yeah, Nene's not having that.
She looked into his eyes, trying to convey her serious-ness. "Amane-Kun, it's okay to struggle. And I'll gladly make that your wish, if you need."
He shook his head frantically, panicked. "No, I'm getting better. My wish for romance still stands."
Nene jumped up off the toilet, floating right into his face. "Are you sureeeee", She smirked, "You really wanna use your wish on romance?"
He nodded, face set in determination. "Yes. I wish for romance."